Are Stereotypes Holding You Back From Your Writing Dream?

If so, you'll get a kick out of what's below...

I was there once, too, thinking an actual career as a writer was the stuff of fantasies.

But the reality?

It’s that this opportunity is yours for the taking! (Actually, we’ve uncovered over 80 different paid writing opportunities in this wild digital world of ours — click here to see the copywriter fees for the top 80 projects.)

So I invite you to move beyond the stereotypes.

And while yes, a sustainable, paid writing career takes focus and effort…

If you love what you do and have the freedom you crave throughout your days and life, then isn’t it all worth it?

I definitely think so!

Enjoy this foray into writer stereotypes, along with the surprising truth behind it all.

—Mindy

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Half-Shaven, Brooding, and Other Writer Stereotypes – Are They for Real?

By Mindy McHorse

Trying to describe the stereotypical Barefoot Writer is tricky, without falling into stereotypes. It’s a lot like trying to answer one of the most common questions posed to those of us who enjoy the Barefoot Writer lifestyle:

“What exactly is it you DO?”

When I first started out, I’d try to explain the concept of being a freelance writer to people who didn’t understand. I’d talk about copywriting. I’d touch on the huge need for content online. I’d explain that effective emails have to be written by somebody.

Sometimes, this was enough and the questions would stop. When the lengthy explanations didn’t do any good, I’d use my go-to line:

“I write words that connect people to the things they want.”

Because really, that’s what we do. Whether you’re drafting an e-book that explains how to re-grout bathroom tile or managing the Facebook profile of a cupcake bakery, your goal is to craft copy that tells people where to go and what to do to get the things they want.

Other common questions from those outside the Barefoot Writing World have to do with how we make a living — i.e., how we get paid.

To people who have never known life beyond the corporate world, or who’ve never had a job that didn’t involve punching a clock, this is harder to grasp. Questions I’ve heard over the years are:

“So, you don’t have a boss? Who tells you what to do?”

“You can work from anywhere? Surely you have to report in somewhere?”

“And you get paid directly for this? Like, real money?”

It comes down to this: The idea of living a well-funded, freedom-filled lifestyle as a writer is hard for some people to understand because it goes against the belief systems they were raised with. It clashes with the stereotypes they’ve grown up believing.

If someone grew up in a family where both parents worked outside the home, and where their friends and family today are all entrenched in the corporate world, then it’s easy to see how any kind of alternative is surprising.

The reality is that most people just don’t know a lot about the writing world. And when people don’t know about something, they tend to fall back on stereotypes.

Certainly, there are a fair number of writer stereotypes. Some are funny. A few raise eyebrows. Plenty are downright wrong.

But, are writer stereotypes for real?

I asked around to find out what other people think a “writer” is. Here are some of the most common answers, along with the reality of how those stereotypes relate to our brand of Barefoot Writers:

Sure, plenty of writers fall into some version of these stereotypes. But the majority are working writers who make a living putting words together for practical use. They’re sane, healthy, and functional, and they live comfortably on fees and royalties.

The bottom line here is, Barefoot Writers come in all forms. Our community is made up of city folks, country folks, and even a few who run their own farms. Some live internationally, some travel full-time. Some think writing a 20-page sales letter is the height of excitement, some balk at the idea and revel in short-form social media posts.

We have planners and pantsters (those who fly by the seat of their pants when tackling projects). We have writers who cycle through projects like the steady tortoise and writers who capitalize on bursts of energy, like the hare.

I know writers who revel in insider trading and blog about it day and night. Others get lost in the drama of an appeal for a nonprofit. Some write about safety products for kids, some focus on aluminum cabinetry.

The most successful ones write about topics that fascinate them — like Cyndee Davis and chocolate or Steve Coombes and his expertise in disaster preparedness.

There’s nothing typical about being a Barefoot Writer. There’s no point wanting to be the shiny stereotype people think a writer is.

But, there is a lot of value in going after this lifestyle on your own terms and making it real. So, think about it. What kind of writer are you? Do any of the writer stereotypes fit you?

If they do, fine. If they don’t, that’s fine, too. Choose your writing direction and go for it. Finding contentment in the end is all that really matters.

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💡Question: Which writer stereotype do you identify with? Or, what’s your reality in contrast to one of the stereotypes? Please share in the comments.

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This spreads the word about achieving a paid writer’s life—and the more voices in our community, the more advice and examples we can share. 🙏